Edge-grinding machine for lenses



April 8 1924. I 1,489;606

' E. M. LONG EDGE GRINDING MACHINE FOR LENSES Filed 1113111 10, 1919 Is Sheets-Sheet 1 v I IIVgL/VTOR t r BY i 6 A ril 8, 1924. 1,489,606

E. M. LONG EDGE GRINDING MACHINE FOR LENSES Filed April 10 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 6777/ I5VNTOR BY I I I April 8 1924.

S sets-Sheet 5 E FOR LENSES E. M. LONG EDGE GRINDING MACHIN 1'. Filed April 10,

- Patented Apr. 8, 1924 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELI M. LQNG, F Gfifi'EVA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD OPTICAL COM- IPANY, OF GENEVA, YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

EDGE-GRINDING MACHINE FOR LENSES.

Application flled april 10, 1919. Serial No. 288,897.

T 0 all IO/m, it may concern;

Be it known that I, ELI M. LONG, a citizcn of the United States of America, and resident of Geneva, N. Y., in the county of Ontario,-in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Edge-Grinding Machines for Lenses, of

which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in 'edge grinding machines for lenses,

' the main object of which is to. automatically and uniformlybevel the edge of the lens from one -or both sides by rotating said lens edgewise against a special form of rotary grinder preparatory to receiving the usual l'lmS.

In many forms of concavoconvex such as toric and cylindrical lenses whether elliptical or circular, different points in the perimeter or periphery are disposed in different planes relatively to that of the center of the lens, and one of the specific ob jects of my present invention is to cause all of such points to contact with the grinder in the same plane and with substantially the same pressure. and to utilize the grinding surfaces of the grinder in combination with the free axial and radial movements of the lens holder as a means for carrying out this.

object.

Another, not less important, object, is to divide the grinder into two similar circular sections or grinding elements opposed to each other axially and to provide their adjacent ends with beveled circumferentially entending edges meeting at the point of on the edge of the lens may be made correspondingly uniform. Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the machine will be brought out in the following description.

In thedrawings:

Figure l is a top plan of an edge grinding machine for carrying out the objects of my invention in which the axes of the grinding elements are parallel but ofi'set radially at substantially right angles to a radial line.

jacent portion of the supporting framefor the lens holder.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of the main portion of the machine taken .on line- 4-4 Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view-of a slightly modified. form of [machine in which the grinding elements and their axes are. disgpsed at an angle to each' other so that the veled edges meet at the point of contact. with the lens. I

, Theconstruction shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, comprises a main supporting frame -1', grinder. composed of opposite circular grinding elements 2, a rotary lens holder 3- for supporting a lens a, and a floating support 4 for tire lens holder together with suitable drivin means for the grinding elements and additional driving means for th rotary lens holder hereinafter described. 3

The .frame -1 may be of any desired construction provided with a reservoir or trough -5-' adapted to receive the drip of the water which is preferably introduced between the grinding elementsthrough one or both of the hollow supporting shafts therefor.

The grinding elements 2.are mounted in axially opposed relation or. end to end upon separate hollow rotary shafts -6 and .-6 which are journaled in parallel but' offset relation in suitable bearings 7- on the main frame -1 at the outer ends of the grinders, each shaft being provided at its inner end with a circumferentially grooved collar -8 for receiving the inner edge of the corresponding grinding element -2 which is rlgidly clamped to i the collar '8-- by a'supplemental collar 9- screwing upon the hub of the first named collar as shown more clearly in Fig- "ripheries of the grinding elements -2- a distance slightly greater than the depth of the beveled edges 10- whereby the beveled edge at the front of one grinding element will project forwardly beyond the corresponding edge of the other grinding element, and the rear edge of the last named element will project horizontally beyond the corresponding edge of the first named clement to permit the use of diametrically opposits truing tools as -l1- for keeping the beveled edges 10 at the desired angle and circularity.

In other words, the grinding elements are offset at substantially right angles to the vertical plane of the axis of the lens holder '45, the axis of which is parallel with those oft-he grinding elements 2- and is adapted to hold the lens -a edgewise in contac with both the beveled edges -l0,

at the point where said beveled edges register to form the transverse l-shaped groove previously mentioned, or in a vertical plane substantially midway between the axes of the grinding elements.

The rotary lens holder may be of any vell known construction, but in this instance, consists of a pair of opposed heads -l2 and 13- between which the lens --ais clamped, the head -12 together l with a former i0 being mounted upon a rotary shaft or spindle -14. which in turn are driven by intermeshing gears 15 ,'or'may be rotated by a hand wheel -16 on the outer end of the shaft or spindle as shown more clearly in Fig ure The head 19, and former '-4c0-- may be locked to the shaft in any suitable manner which will permit both of those parts to be removed when necessary it being under stood that the particular form of lens holder forms no part of this invention except broadly in combination with the grinding elements.

The head -13- is mounted upon a separate spindle l7 which together with the spindle -l4- are journaled in suitable bearings -18-- and form a part of a float ing support 4 for the lens holder.

The spindle 17 and its head 13 are movable axially against the 'action of a re tracting spring -19v which serves to yieldingly hold the head .13- in clamping p0 sition upon the lens a-, but is adapted to be released against the action of said spring by means of a hand lever -20-- shown in Figure 1. y

The floating support for the lens holder is shown as composed of two sections 21- and 22-, the section 2lbeing pivotally mounted at 23- upon an upright. bracket 2% of the main supporting frame to swing horizontally or about a vertical axis, while the section -2.Z- is hinged at 25 to the front end of the section 21- to swing vertically or about a horizontal axis and constitutes the direct support for the rotary lens holder.

It, therefore, follows that the lens holder has two distinctive movements, one of which is axial to enable all portions of the edge of the lens which may be in different planes to automatically register with or follow in the V'sliaped groove formed by the beveled edges -10-, the vertical movement of the section -29r serving to compensate for varying radii of the lens at its point of contact with the grinder.

A driving shaft 26-- is journaled in a horizontal position upon the rear end 'of the frame- -1 or rather upon the upright bracket 24- and is provided with tight and loose pulleys -27- and -28 ada )ted to be connected by a belt (not showng to. any available source of power. I

This driving .haftis also provided with a pair of pulleys 29- connected by belts 30- to somewhat larger pulleys -31" on the shafts 6. and 6- of the grinding elements 2 and 2- as shown more clearly in Figure 1.

Secured to the same driving shaft is a beveled gear -32 which meshes with a The shaft 34- is provided with a gear -3f meshing with a similar gear 36 which in turn transmits motion to the gear15- through the medium of an idler -37 thus completing the means for transmitting rotary motion from the driving shaft 26-- to the lens holder 3-.

It is evident, howeveix that any other means may be employed for driving the grinding elements 2 and the lens holder -3. and. therefore, I do not limit myself to the construction shown'and described.

The bearings .-7-- for the shafts 6 of the grinding elements are preferably adjusted axially to permit the meeting faces of the grinding elements to be brought. into close contact, and for this purpose is proin Figure Both of the grinding elements 2-- are preferabl rotated at the same speed and.

in the same direction, while the lens holder 3 is rotated at suitable speed in an opposit'e direction to acceleratethe grinding effectupon the lens.

The size and shape of the lens is determined by the usual former or attern 40- riding against an adjust-ab e rest 1l which may be adjusted toward and from the axis of the lens holder bymeans;

of a screw -42, the rest -.41' pivoted at --l3 to the section 21 -"of the floating support fort-he lens holder as shown more clearly in Figure 3.- I

In Figure 5 is shown a pair of opposed grinding elements 2- having their axes disposed at an angle to each other but in substantially the same vertical plane so that the upper edges of their adjacent faces meet in substantially the same plane to form thereat a V-shaped groove with which the" edge of the lens is adapted to register for bevcling the edges thereof.

The shafts as -6-'- upon which the grinding elements -2 are clamped are also disposed at an angle to each other, but in the same vertical plane and are journaled in bearings 7 the latter being also adjustable axially and clamped in their adjusted position by devices similar to those previously described.

It is evident fromthe foregoing description that the adjacent faces or ends of, the grinding elements -2'' in horizontal plane passing through their axes will be spalced some distance apart sufficient to pernntlthe use of truing devices similar tothose ,previously described in keeping the beveled edges 10- at the desired angle.

be water for moistening purposes is preferably introduced between the grinding elements 8- through one or both of the hollow shafts -6 and for this purpose I have shown a water supply pipe -w leading from any suitable source of sup 1y into the outer end of the right hand shaft '6 Figure 4. the passage through the shaft being shown by dotted lines. e

What I claim is: 1

1. In a lens edge beveling machine, a retary grinder having opposed beveled fades, a rotary lens holder and driving me ns therefor, and means for supporting the l holder with the edge of the lens in simhltan-eons contact with both of the beveled.

faces. said supporting means being moved lengthwise of the axis of the grinder .in-

dependently of said driving means by'contact of the edge of the lens with said beveled faces in case different portions of the edge of the lens rotate in different planes.

2. In a machine for beveling the edge of a lens. a rotary grinder having opposed beveled face-s, and means for rot atabl supporting a lens edgewisc against both of said faces simultaneously and allowing it to move in opposite directions lengtlnvisc of its axis of rotation solely by contact of the edge of the lens with said face; in case different portions of the edge of the lens rotate in different planes.

3. In a lens edge bevcling machine, a rotary grinder having opposed beveled faces, and means for rotatably supporting a lens edgewise against botlrof said faces simul taneously including -supporting members movable about axes at right angles to each other and actuated by the axes by contact of the lens with-satd beveled faces.

4. In a lens edge beveling machine, a 1'0- tary grinder having juxtaposed beveled faces, means for rotatably supporting a lens edgewise against both of said faces simultaneously, said means having unrestrained vmovement in opposite directions lengthwise of the axis of the grinder whereby the contact between the edge of the lens and beveled faces constitute the only means for moving the lens lengthwise of said axis in case different portions of the edge of the lens rotate in different planes. v i

, 5. In a lens edge beveling machine, a grinder rotatable about a horizontal axis andprovided with juxtaposed beveled faces, a rotary lens holder above the grinder for supporting the lens edge'wise against both ofsaid facessimultaneously, and a sectional,

support for the'lens holder having one of its sections pivoted to swing about a, vertical axis and another section pivoted to the first named section to swing about a horizontal ins the axis of-the grinder, said means including a member hinged to swing about a vertical axis, and an additional member hinged to the first named member to swing about a 1 horizontal axis some distance from the axis of rotation of the lens holder, the movement of the supporting means for the lens holder -in opposite directions about the vertical axis being unrestrained and the contact of the lens with the beveled grinding faces constituting the sole means for causing axial movement of the lens holder in case different POI". tions of the edge of the lens rotate in diffe'rent planes.

I 7. In an edge grinding machine of the character described, a rotary grinder havin o posed circumferentially extending bevele e ges, floating means for rotatively holding a lens edgewise against both ofsaid beveled edges at the same time, whereby portions of the edge of the lens rotating in ,diiferent planes cooperating with the bevetedges ot the grinder will automatically shift said lens holding means both axially and radially.

8. In an edge grinding machine of the character described, a'rotary grinding element having opposed beveled edges, a rotary lens holding element for supporting a lens edgewise against both of said beveled edges at the same time, the engagement of the lens with the bevel edges causing one element to automatically shift axially to compensate for variations in theiplanes of rotation of different points in the edge of said lens;

9. In a machine for. grinding the edges of lenses, the combination of a rotary grinding element having oppose'dbeveled *edges, a

supporting frame for said grinding element,

a bracket'ri'sing from the frameat the rear of the grinding element, a rotary lens holder above the grinding element directly over the ment, and-separate means for transmitting motion from the driving shaft to the rotary lens holder.

10. In a machine for grinding the edges of lenses, a rotary grinder composed of'separate disks and separate supporting shafts therefor offset radially one from the other in V V one direction and inclined in another direction at right angles to a lane of ofi'set, said disks having ad acent en s facing each other and provided with peripheral beveled faces, and means for'rotatably supporting a lensedgewise in contact with both of said beveled faces at their point of nearest approach to each other.

'11. In an edge grinding machine for lenses, a rotary grinder havin opposed grinding faces, and a rotary, axially movable lens holder supporting the lens edge wise against both of said faces, and actuated axially thereby.

12. In an edge grinding machine for lenses, the combination of a rotary grinder having opposed peripheral grinding faces, and a rotary lens holder supporting the lens edgewise against bgth of saidiaces, said lens holder being movable axially and radially relative to the grinder, and both movements controlled by contact of the lens with said grinding faces,

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2nd day of April, 1919.

ELI M. LONG. Witnesses:

L. B. COLEMAN. A. W. NEWELL. 

